The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-01-09
A THIEF FOR HER CHILDREN
sAW OTHERS STEAL AND rHoUGHr
SIZE COULD TOO.

The PisIaBls story Uncovered By the-Ar-
rest Of a Woman In Furst Bros. store
fer MISUNDERSTANDING Many
9th ers.-The Police Investigate.
One of the saddest cases TIT ever came
under police notice was brought to light in
toe First Precinct station-houss lasl nigat.
About nine o'clock Special Cfscer Van
Buskirk, who is employed as a detective
in Furst Bros store, entered the station
having in custody poorly clad
woman whom he charged with
shoplfting. As the woman looked at
the blue coated officer behind the desk and
realized her position she broke into food
OF tears and had it not been for the railing
against which Van Buskirk held her she
would have fallen to the floor.
"Oh, my childrenl my children! God
have mercy on them. Please, Mr., let me
go home to them, Oh, please do"
Stand up there and tell the sergeant
your NAME" said Officer W. lheben grufay.
This the woman refused to de however and
continued her piteous cries for her chill
dren. Officer Rickerich searched her and
fou Id seventeen lace tides, pair of cloth
gloves, pair of stockings, pair of naitts,
two paper of pins, roll of elastic, piece
of muslin, pair of childrens rubber boots
and bottle of hair oil. Van Buskirk
identified them all as property that had
been stolen from Furst Bros. store. Lit
tie by little between her heart-rending sobs
the following story was Obtained from the
woman. She said, II live on Second
street, near Newark avenue. Seven months
ago my husband died, leaving me with Eve
children, the oldest one nine years old. I
had no money and I had to work bard for
my living. Two weeks ago my oldest boy
was taken sick, and few days after my
second child, seven years old, go. sick;
then my little baby, only five months
old, that was born after my husband
died, got sick. I had to stay home and
take care OF them. We didn't have
any money and I couldn't work We
hadn't had anything to eat all day and I
had to do something, The other women
told me to steal they told me how to do
it, and did it. Oh. may God have mercy
OF me and my poor children.
! Mrs, Nathan, the female examiner, wls
sent for and the woman was taken In q de-
ten ion room and carefully searched w.taatt
4 finding any mere plumber, however. She
told Ms. Nathan that the womaa had put
1 her up to it and said that they all did it.
II response to the questioning Of Ms.
Nathan and a couple of officers she said
that the women who had put her up to il
were Mrs. Bergen of Montgomery street,
Mrs. Witterschien of Newark avenue, aud
a woman on Mercer street. another on
Grand street, and another in Wayne street,
whose name she didn't know. These
WON en- went out overy night she said, to
New York, and Brooklyn, and Newark be-
sides working the stores of Jersey City.
They stole mostly silk handkerchiefs,
shoes, stockings. etc. Tbs goods she said
were secreted in Mrs. Wltterschin's house.
Some of them were hanging on the wall IN
the back bedroom. In the meantime OH
Ger Rickerich had been sent to the address
the woman gave on Second street to search
her home and ascertain whether or not her
story was true When he returned he re-
ported that he had been unable to find any
goods hidden in the house He said thas
the family We're in a horrible condlsiaa,
and were literally starving to death, He
had tried to get some of the neighDoss to
take care of the children for the nlght, but
could find no one When the woman
heard what the officer said, she became
violent, and waving her lands implored
the Captain to let her go home, promising
before God to be back en- Monday. It was
feared for time ths.t she would go inso
Mysteries On the advice of Chief M1r
; ply, Captain Farriar sent the woman K
fudge Stiising's home with Detective Pier
son. After hearing her story the kiGd
hearted Justice gave her a dollar and pa
rolled her until Monday.
Officers Wolheben and Rickerich wers
sent to the house of Mrs. Witterschein
J. where it was alleged stolen goods wers Sc
GREETED, but she denied all knowledge OF tbs
thieVing Mrs. Witterschein acknowledged
that she was acquainted with the woman
; but Indignantly denied that she had pu
!. her up to steal anything. The police are
/. of tbs opinion that Mes. Stelnger is only
tool of an organized gang OF shoplifcers
who have their headquarters in Jersey City
:. aud work all the large cities in the vicinity
; Mrs. Steinger says that the agent of hel
. house will turn her out on Tuesday, anG
: that she will have to go to the poor hou5;
then if she is not sent to the jail.